How to Be a Great Podcast Guest
Be Our Guest
Guests are such an important part of many podcasts, but it's likely a podcast guest is not a podcast expert. If you've never been on a podcast before, what should you do to do a good job?
Before you even get to the recording, there are a few things you're going to want to do.
Read through all of the information the podcast producer sends you. There might be important instructions in there. Maybe there's something you need to read or watch or prepare for the podcast. If you're recording remotely, you might need to download something to your computer like a recording program, or maybe a certain browser for the recording. Make sure you're prepared.
Understand the format and the tone of the show. If there are existing episodes available, take a listen to an episode. You can figure out are there guests on for segments? Are they on for the whole episode? Is the show funny? Is the show serious? You'll understand a lot about what you're about to record ahead of time.
Understand your job on the podcast. Are you there to be an expert? Are you there to be entertaining? How about to share your perspective? Make sure you know what you should do when you're on the show.
If the podcast is being recorded remotely, meaning over the internet or the phone…
You should test out your equipment ahead of time. Make sure you're able to set up the equipment and get it working before the recording. If you need help, let the producer know. It's super helpful to work out technical issues ahead of time so you can focus on the content on the day of. It's always ideal if you use an external microphone instead of your computer's microphone. So if you don't have one, let the producer know. They might be able to get you something else to use. And if not the microphone that comes on the earbud/mic combos that tend to come with phones work really well.
Make sure you find a quiet place to record with a good internet connection. Be sure your pets are in the other room, your TV is off, and you don't have any distracting room noises. So think about air conditioners, buzzing fridges, things that the microphone might pick up in that room.
And lastly, make sure to wear wired headphones. You don't want your computer audio to get picked up on the microphone, so you should always wear headphones. Wireless headphones work but they can have a delay, which is why wired headphones are preferred.
If you're recording the podcast in person…
Be sure to show up on time. You typically won't start recording right away, but you'll need time to test out the microphone adjust levels and then cover anything you might need to know for the record. It's better all around if you have time to settle in and get comfortable behind the mic.
Another rule of recording in person is don't touch any equipment unless you're told to. Audio equipment can be really sensitive and expensive, so let the experts take care of adjusting the mic stand and where the mic is pointing so you don't do anything to mess with their fancy, expensive equipment.
And lastly, bring water. Your mouth can get dry when you're talking for a long period of time. So it's a good idea to have water on hand. But don't put it on the table unless you ask first. You don't want to spill it on that equipment. And sometimes a water bottle can make a sound if it hits the table. So just check ahead of time before you set your water on the table. Another pro tip, try not to drink your water close to the mic because most mics will pick up gulping sounds.
During the recording…
Keep in mind where you are relative to the microphone. It can be really tempting to turn your head while you're having a conversation. But you'll want to maintain a consistent distance from the microphone. Unless you are coughing, sneezing or laughing, in that case, feel free to lean away from the microphone so it's not as loud.
Finally, after the recording is all done and the podcast has been released…
The best thing you can do to be a great podcast guest is share the podcast with your network. That is incredibly helpful for the podcasters that you're working with to promote their show and to get more listeners.